Morris tribune., 1887-11-16
A YOUNG NAPOLEON.
"When is 1t to besn

Sstlu mourning, DuC cOulQ not lelp
thinking. In smaA town like Cotton
vile Strong was regarded as a very pros
porous young man. He had saved few
thousand dollars, and his salary was the
highest paid to any one in the place
Onlya few years before Strong had en-
tered a country store as a clerk ON starva-
ton wages. He had advanced steadily
until he had become the cashier of the
only bank in Cottonville.
az have done pretty well," resumed
Strong, giving me keen glance, "but
do not know exactly how stand Some
of my investments may turn out well, or
they may ruin me. Besides, l have Dor
rowed some money
"That is what / cannot understand" I
interrupted. 'You are prospecting, and
Jet you borrow money for speculations.
That is not wise"
Strong laughed, and threw his head
back proudly.
''Old fellow, you don know my plans, -
he answered; II have never made fail
ure yet. have the gift of seeing farther
ahead than most people, and l am going
to utilize it. I borrow money, but know
where to place it, don't venture be-
yond my depth. Debt is blessing under
some circumstances. The most successful
nations and individuals go the deepest in
debt"
1t was useless to argue with Strong In
our debating society he had always come
OF victor in every discussion. Self poised,
well equipped and magnetic, there were
few men, or women either, that he could
not win over to his side
'Varina understands me-" he said.
''She is willing to wait. She knows that
1t is best for US BOTH
"Well, my young Napoleon" / re-
marked, 81 hope that one of your brill
iant speculative campaigns will satisfy
your ambition, and that you will then
settle down and marry and take life as
you find it. Only few men find the
short cuts to. fame and fortune, and it is
dangerous to seek them"
Everybody in Cottonville called Strong
the young Napoleon of business. His
brilliancy. his rapid intuition, his imperi-
Gus ways. and the fact that his classic
features resembled somewhat those of the
great Corsican, had fixed the name Oh
him when he was in his teens. And he
liked it. All men like to think that they
resemble heroes and conquerors.
II.
Twenty thousand dollars profit in cot
ton futuresr'
1t was big thing for Cottonville. But
the young Napoleon took it quietly. He
was not surprised, he said to his inquiring
friends. He had felt certain that he would
make ten strike
~ app. of for New York" said Strong,
the ne& bday after the intelligence of his
good fEtune had reached him. "Goodby,
old fellow"
But when are you coming back P''
asked, holding him by the hand.
"Oh, don't know. l can't very well
say at present"
'There is Varinar' exclaimed. "Ah,
see. After your return there will be a
wedding
Don't bother me with that subject
now" snapped my friend; ''my head is
full of important business matters, and ]
must go to New York. There is no way
out Of it. 1t is all right with Varina. OF
course am coming home as soon as
possibly can, but have an opportunity
of getting on the inside in Wall street
and must CO."
Getting On the inside?''
eyes, said So But you know nothing
about speculation and care less. meas
just this: have some friends there who
will put me up to something that will pay
better than any of my past ventures"
''My dear FRIEND" I urged, "why moi
let well alone2 With your present start
you will soon be the richest man in Cot
tonville'
SIN Cottonville!" he sneered. 'There,
never mind that. I like the town and /
nm inc IocI- Coo6Ioy7
People shook their heads at first. In a
few weeks their suspicious were confirmed.
Strong had plunged into the very vortex
of the speculative maelstrom in Wall
street, and it was not long before we
heard that he had made another lucky hit.
"Strong is phenomenal genius in his
way" said Banker Jones to me one day.
'He reads human nature at a glance, and
can adapt himself to any class of men. ]
have no doubt that he is as much at home
among the New York capitalists as if be
had been one of them always. And he
will impress them, too, just as he i'm
pressed people here"
Sentured to express doubt
"You are mistaken" said Jones
"Have you never noticed a few rare mer
who seem to have nothing in common
with the people around them-men who
from their birth, are cosmopolitan by ma
ture, with nothing provincial about them
Strong is such man. A stranger could
not tell from his appearance and con.
yersation what part of the country he is
identified with. In New York, San Fran
cisco or New Orleans he would be al
home. 1t is only here, where he-was born
that lie appears TO be altogether different
from his fellows"
Banker Jones was something of 6
philosopher and had to yield to him.
saw Varina every day. Sometimes
was at the postoffice when she called fol
her mail, and was always well pleased
to see her bend her pretty head and hurry
of with white envelope bearing the New
York postmark, and addressed in the
handwriting so well known to me-
B 1t was nearly year before Strong re
turned, and then it was only on flying
visit. A special car bearing some of tht
biggest railway magnates In the countr.
passed through. Strong was with the party
but he left it, and spent half day at hi
old home. Heawas with Varina most d
the time andI saw him only moment.
mo changes, I see,'' said he In cur
businesslike way, mot q house painted
and not q hammer has been heard since
left. Everything is just the same.''
"Varina, too?" suggested, -
"Yes, Varina, too, y he replied "Poo
little thing. Do you know that she lack
force of character?'
'T think nothing Of the kind . I an
swered shortly, she certainly has q grea
deal of patience under trying circum
stances, and there is some force Of char
acter in that. -.
Strong's eyes fell, and he gave me
parting clasp OF the hand. He had to re
join the railway kings at their next stop
ping place. It was hard to tear himsel
away, but it could not be helped.
His visit could not have been very sat
isfactory to Varina, for from that time
saw change In her. Her face began t,
have weary, sad look, and she ploddet
on with her school work, withdrawing
herself almost entirely from society. Sh
still received letters from New York, bu
they were less frequent than formerly.
When Strong paid his next visit to Cot
tonville, the following year, he was |
millionaire. This time he remained severa
days, and was at his best Everybody re
marked that prosperity had not spoiled
him, He was devoted to Varina, but tn,